The Council of Europe has asked Poland to create legal possibilities for abortion. The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers said yesterday that there must be “effective and legal procedures” for women to give them “access to a legal abortion”. In particular, it must be ensured that hospitals do not impose „unnecessary demands“ on pregnant women who want to have a legal abortion.
Poland must also legally oblige hospitals to refer patients to other medical facilities if, for reasons of conscience, they are denied an abortion in the clinic concerned.
Abortions abroad
Poland tightened its already restrictive abortion laws in January following a ruling by the Supreme Court. The judges had called the abortion of severely malformed fetuses „incompatible“ with the Polish constitution. The national conservative government then implemented the tightening it had advocated. Termination of pregnancy is therefore prohibited in almost all cases.
In Poland, abortions are now only allowed as a result of incest or rape or if the mother’s life is in danger. So far, fewer than 2,000 pregnancies have been legally terminated annually in Poland. Women’s rights organizations estimate that there will be around 200,000 other illegal abortions or abortions carried out abroad.
